2020-21 ISU Grand Prix season - Assignments Announced

[ancientpeas]

On a purely selfish level I'm looking forward to chatting with you guys when the events are on.

The grumpy couch will be vacuumed and snacks will be available. Those of you on the fence between grumpy couch and happy swivel chairs can sit on the large comfie bean bag chairs of mild disgruntlement until you make up your minds. But I have to warn you... the grumpy couch gang always has better snacks than the happy swivel chair group. We eat our feelings.

 

[Skatesocs]

I would also like to confirm that from my understanding, for the “what the heck” moments in scheduling, the Fed is responsible, and not the ISU. The national Feds for these comps are the ones who select skaters, the other Feds are the ones who horse trade Skaters in and out, and presumably a Fed knows where its skaters are.

The feds are responsible for "trading" it is true, but for taking this long to iron out "logistics" related to the pandemic, I would think the ISU played a more active role and worked with the feds and skaters, or at least should have. Yet, we are left with assignments at Skate Canada with skaters who might not make it, and a team that was till now recovering from COVID assigned to any event at all.

I guess we will see if it works out with Cha and Kurakova. But even apart from that, if someone sees people not wearing masks in a GP event that lets an audience in, I expect the fed *and* the ISU to be criticized. The fed for letting an audience in, and the ISU for not enforcing its protocol properly.

 

[Kittosuni]

Korean ladies are the most glaring omission so far, fingers crossed there will be either an option for them to compete domestically or CoC gets filled out

Question is Cha currently training in Korea or Cananda? Last time I check he is in Korea still. If he can travel to Canada to compete for the Grand Prix I think it is a good idea for the Korean Fed to have 2-3 girls travel with him and do the whole quarantine etc and compete in the GP. The only problem is if Canadian Fed actually wants to invite them for their GP. Also if Cricket wants to host the girls for their training as they quarantine. Also if Korean fed wants to spend that $$$.

 

[Ichatdelune]

Question is Cha currently training in Korea or Cananda? Last time I check he is in Korea still. If he can travel to Canada to compete for the Grand Prix I think it is a good idea for the Korean Fed to have 2-3 girls travel with him and do the whole quarantine etc and compete in the GP. The only problem is if Canadian Fed actually wants to invite them for their GP. Also if Cricket wants to host the girls for their training as they quarantine. Also if Korean fed wants to spend that $$$.

Junhwan's in Korea, and I doubt that KSU would be willing to go that far, they're notoriously incompetent and lazy.

 

[Seven Sisters]

Junhwan's in Korea, and I doubt that KSU would be willing to go that far, they're notoriously incompetent and lazy.

I love the idea of sending Young You, at least, to Canada along with Junhwan to compete in the Grand Prix there—it would liven that competition up considerably! Ichat, how can we petition the KSU?

 

[Ichatdelune]

I love the idea of sending Young You, at least, to Canada along with Junhwan to compete in the Grand Prix there—it would liven that competition up considerably! Ichat, how can we petition the KSU?

You can't (deep sigh) Just don't expect anything from KSU, less disappointment that way.

 

[norwegianfairytale]

I´m really confused about the selection. I tried to study the critera for the selection of Grand Prix and it seems they base it on best scores (Top 75) and/or the best ranking for the 2019/20 season (top 24), after the ones who earned a spot from top placement after the previous GP.

After studying those list, i´m wondering why Nikolaj Majorov got the spot in France instead of Paul Fentz or Aleksandr Selekvo?

SB 2019/20:

34. Paul Fentz 230,01 - (SWR nr. 60)
38. Aleksandr Selekvo 221,84 (SWR. nr. 26)
56. Nikolaj Majorov 212,57 (SWR. nr. 45)

Also Ivan Schmuratko has the 39 best SB in 2019/20 season (WR. nr. 40), and should also be placed above but i´m not sure where he is training and if he might be considered for the one in Moscow instead.

None of the skaters are at top 24 at the season ranking, and therefore they will be picked after SB. Paul Fentz had the best score the last season. And if even it they would base it on season ranking, Aleksandr would still be ahead of Nikolaj.

Nikolaj was not ahead of Paul in EC (don´t think that would count) and he or a male skater from Sweden did not compete in the GP last season.

The only reason I could think is because Nikolaj placed 3. in NT 2020 and placed above Paul and Aleksandr there, but I thought they weren´t considering the result from this season for the selection?

So does anyone know or do i just don´t understand how they make the selection?

And btw, I think Nikolaj deserved the spot and i´m really happy for him, but i´m just trying to understand the selection. Paul and Aleksandr was both competing in NT so it doesn´t make sense they would say no.

Another option might be travel restrictions? But Schott is listed for Germany in the ladies field so that should not be the reason I think.

I also try to sort out who is next in line if any of the selected skater WD, but i´m really confused now.

 

[norwegianfairytale]

Btw, the list I looked at for 2019/20:

Best scores: http://www.isuresults.com/isujsstat/sb2019-20/sbtsmto.htm

Season world ranking:

http://www.isuresults.com/ws/wr2019-20/wrmen.htm

Last uped the 6th of March, but there wasn´t really any comps after because of Covid, was there?

 

[haribobo]

Anything beyond top 24 in ws and sb is basically up to factors we don't hear about. And this year even top 24 skaters weren't guaranteed if they're from south korea...or they declined to participate

 

[lariko]

I´m really confused about the selection. I tried to study the critera for the selection of Grand Prix and it seems they base it on best scores (Top 75) and/or the best ranking for the 2019/20 season (top 24), after the ones who earned a spot from top placement after the previous GP.

After studying those list, i´m wondering why Nikolaj Majorov got the spot in France instead of Paul Fentz or Aleksandr Selekvo?

SB 2019/20:

34. Paul Fentz 230,01 - (SWR nr. 60)
38. Aleksandr Selekvo 221,84 (SWR. nr. 26)
56. Nikolaj Majorov 212,57 (SWR. nr. 45)

Also Ivan Schmuratko has the 39 best SB in 2019/20 season (WR. nr. 40), and should also be placed above but i´m not sure where he is training and if he might be considered for the one in Moscow instead.

None of the skaters are at top 24 at the season ranking, and therefore they will be picked after SB. Paul Fentz had the best score the last season. And if even it they would base it on season ranking, Aleksandr would still be ahead of Nikolaj.

Nikolaj was not ahead of Paul in EC (don´t think that would count) and he or a male skater from Sweden did not compete in the GP last season.

The only reason I could think is because Nikolaj placed 3. in NT 2020 and placed above Paul and Aleksandr there, but I thought they weren´t considering the result from this season for the selection?

So does anyone know or do i just don´t understand how they make the selection?

And btw, I think Nikolaj deserved the spot and i´m really happy for him, but i´m just trying to understand the selection. Paul and Aleksandr was both competing in NT so it doesn´t make sense they would say no.

Another option might be travel restrictions? But Schott is listed for Germany in the ladies field so that should not be the reason I think.

I also try to sort out who is next in line if any of the selected skater WD, but i´m really confused now.

I was thinking that this one Russian spot on men’s roster that doesn’t say RUS (unlike spots in other categories) might be for once of those skaters, Selevko, Fentz, Frangipani or Schmuratko, but it’s just my completely unsubstantiated internal speculations

 

[norwegianfairytale]

I was thinking that this one Russian spot on men’s roster that doesn’t say RUS (unlike spots in other categories) might be for once of those skaters, Selevko, Fentz, Frangipani or Schmuratko, but it’s just my completely unsubstantiated internal speculations

I was speculating in that too, but then it´s probably not entirely geographical motivated because it would perhaps make more sense to send Nikolaj to Moscow with distance instead of sending Fentz there, and so Fentz could go to France. But i´m not sure if it makes sense either really.

Oh and of course, Frangipani probably has a chance for the spot in Rostelecom, I wasn´t considering him because Italy already has two spots in France, but he might be picked for Moscow of course!

 

[norwegianfairytale]

Anything beyond top 24 in ws and sb is basically up to factors we don't hear about. And this year even top 24 skaters weren't guaranteed if they're from south korea...or they declined to participate

Hm, ok, that might be, but when I was reading the critera I got the impression that top 75 SB would be used as critera after top 24 skaters at season ranking, and after that.. other criteras would be used, if there still was spots available.

 

[ice coverage]

Hm, ok, that might be, but when I was reading the critera I got the impression that top 75 SB would be used as critera after top 24 skaters at season ranking, and after that.. other criteras would be used, if there still was spots available.

For those below #24 on the SB and World *Standings* lists, the ISU procedures do *not* say that invitations to #25 - #75 on the SB list must be given according to the *order* of their SBs.

c) Top 24 Season’s best and World Standings Skaters/Couples for season 2019/20, not included in the above point a) and b), will have 3rd priority forselection​

d) The remaining entries will be from Skaters/Couples in the top 75 season’s best list from 2019/20 and up to two Skaters/Couples from the Organizing Grand Prix Member (off list).​

e) In case there are no available Skaters/Couples left in the top 75, the Organizing Grand Prix Member may invite any other Skater training in the Organizing Grand Prix Member’s country.​

​

https://isu.org/docman-documents-links/isu-files/event-documents/figure-skating-4/2020-21/grand-prix-1/series-files-33/25029-isu-grand-prix-general-announcement-2020-21/file

(I am not a partisan in support of Majorov. Selevko is my favorite.
I am just pointing out what exactly the ISU procedures do and do not say.)

Btw, the list I looked at for 2019/20: ...
Season world ranking:

http://www.isuresults.com/ws/wr2019-20/wrmen.htm

...

BTW, to reiterate: ISU World Standings are used in the GP selection process.

Not to be confused with Season's World Rankings, which are not used.​

 

[norwegianfairytale]

For those below #24 on the SB and World *Standings* lists, the ISU procedures do *not* say that invitations to #25 - #75 on the SB list must be given according to the *order* of their SBs.

c) Top 24 Season’s best and World Standings Skaters/Couples for season 2019/20, not included in the above point a) and b), will have 3rd priority forselection​

d) The remaining entries will be from Skaters/Couples in the top 75 season’s best list from 2019/20 and up to two Skaters/Couples from the Organizing Grand Prix Member (off list).​

e) In case there are no available Skaters/Couples left in the top 75, the Organizing Grand Prix Member may invite any other Skater training in the Organizing Grand Prix Member’s country.​

​

https://isu.org/docman-documents-links/isu-files/event-documents/figure-skating-4/2020-21/grand-prix-1/series-files-33/25029-isu-grand-prix-general-announcement-2020-21/file

(I am not a partisan in support of Majorov. Selevko is my favorite.
I am just pointing out what exactly the ISU procedures do and do not say.)



BTW, to reiterate: ISU World Standings are used in the GP selection process.

Not to be confused with Season's World Rankings, which are not used.​

Thank you for the clarification. You are right it doesn´t say anything about the spot must be given according to the order of SB-list. I just assumed it was the most logic thing.

 

[karne]

But even apart from that, if someone sees people not wearing masks in a GP event that lets an audience in, I expect the fed *and* the ISU to be criticized. The fed for letting an audience in, and the ISU for not enforcing its protocol properly.

How is the ISU supposed to enforce a protocol for an event that they are not running?

The ISU doesn't run the GP events, the fed's local organising committee do. If people start coming in without masks and not socially distancing, that's on the fed's organising committee, not the ISU. Of course, any consequences - ie, perhaps removing that fed's right to host a GP in future - would be the ISU's responsibility. And yes, I think it is that serious. I just watched Brendan's new programs from the French Masters and I was absolutely appalled - there were plenty of masks, but no social distancing whatsover. The ISU has to be hard-line on this.

I´m really confused about the selection. I tried to study the critera for the selection of Grand Prix and it seems they base it on best scores (Top 75) and/or the best ranking for the 2019/20 season (top 24), after the ones who earned a spot from top placement after the previous GP.

Remember, this is not a normal GP season. I think it's fair to say the normal criteria might have gone out the window a bit here.

 

[Jontor]

Thank you for the clarification. You are right it doesn´t say anything about the spot must be given according to the order of SB-list. I just assumed it was the most logic thing.

Given the circumstances this season. Lots of countries have travel bans and carantine regulations. Perhaps Majorov simply got the spot because no one else was available?

 

[Skatesocs]

How is the ISU supposed to enforce a protocol for an event that they are not running?

I should have been clearer, but you answered it yourself. I hope the ISU has outlined hard consequences that *will* make the organising federation listen to them. I don't think it has or will though.

But seeing that it has come up with very sensible protocols, I'll wait to see what happens.

 

[cheerknithanson]

I'm excited that McNamara/Spiridonov get to compete in the Grand Prix. I'm also excited that Ilia Malinin and Stephen Gogolev get to make their senior international debut.

Idk if this was covered (Kind of lazy to look back tbh), but will there be any stream for any of these events?

 

[Winnie_20]

I would expect livestreams to be the same as last season. I think the ISU tried to sell the rights for multiple years? (and for the most part failing miserably, thus resulting in them showing the streams for free on their own youtube channel).

 

[Princessroja]

I was just coming in to ask about livestreams as well. Normally in the US it would be covered by NBC, but they've said they won't offer a skating package this year. So I see the following options for US viewers:
1) NBC "gives up" their broadcast rights for the season and we can view the ISU streams
2) NBC insists on showing tiny portions on TV and dumps the rest, leaving us up a creek
3) NBC continues to offer an online streaming service but doesn't charge like normal

I'm hoping for option #1 but I'm worried they'll go with option #2, which means I'll have to figure out VPNs and all that stuff this year. Sigh.